Southern police and St John staff rose to the occasion of the Rugby World Cup and revelled in the "festive" atmosphere the games and fans provided over the past month.
The area hosted seven matches - four in Dunedin and three in Invercargill - the last of which was held on Sunday night.
Southern District Commander Superintendent Bob Burns said sound planning, professionalism and a friendly, visible presence were the hallmarks of the month-long policing operation.
"This approach has certainly contributed to the festive vibe that has been prevalent across the region, an atmosphere which has been enjoyed by locals and visitors alike," he said.
Significant behind-the-scenes work had gone into the operation, with planning starting at the beginning of the year, and staff "could be proud of their contribution to this exciting international event".
Dunedin Area Commander Inspector Dave Campbell was particularly pleased with how the operational planning had been executed in Dunedin.
"Our staff have risen to the challenge of working in the new stadium. Getting to know the layout and aspects of the building are critical to effective policing, and staff have been quick to familiarise themselves. They've done a great job," he said.
Police were impressed with crowd behaviour, with fan interactions being mostly positive, and the minimal number of arrests, about 50 on game nights, and disorder-related incidents.
About 120 extra police officers worked each game night, with 60 covering the stadium. They were largely from Dunedin, though assistance was provided by Balclutha and Oamaru officers, as well as a specialist search group from Christchurch and a dive squad from Wellington.
St John southern region operations manager Doug Third said the event went "really, really well" for the organisation.
"We were really pleased with how people behaved, and were pleasantly surprised with the lack of workload [which] allowed our staff to enjoy being part of the festivities," he said.
A total of 48 St John employees and volunteers were on duty before, during and after each game, and treated 52 people during each game for "minor ailments".
Additional ambulances were posted in the city on game nights.
